Did You Know...?

...there are different styles of Tai Chi

There are 5 main traditional styles of Tai Chi, each one named after the family which devised it.

These are:

• CHEN style (developed by Chen Wangting)
• YANG style (developed by Yang Luchan, a student of Chen Changxing)
• WU/HAO style (developed by Wu Yuxiang, a student of Yang Luchan, Yang Banhou, and Chen Qingping)
• WU style (developed by Wu Jianquan, son of Wu Quanyu) 
• SUN style (developed by Sun Lutang, a student of Hao Weijian)

Ultimately, all these styles have their origins in Chen style.

 

What Are the Differences Between the Styles?

In essence, they are the same because they have a common root and make use of the same core principles, but they display superficial differences which reflect the pre-occupations, preferences and, presumably, the personal physiology of their founders.

CHEN style: emphasises coiling movements and combines fast and slow transitions with jumps and stamping of the feet.  Stances tend to be relatively low.

YANG style: stances tend to be higher than in Chen style, with more emphasis on extension and foot placement.

WU/HAO style: stresses light, deliberate movements, with particular attention to precise footwork.

WU style: emphasises small, tight movements.

SUN style: famed for its soft, flowing, evenly-paced movements, as opposed to the more dynamic squatting and jumping typical of, say, Chen style.

Historically, Yang style has been the most widely practised although Chen style is now rapidly gaining ground; thanks in no small part to the tireless efforts of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, the 19th generation head of Chen family Tai Chi.